Auxiliary front for radiators



Dec. 25, 1934. F; B. HERZ 1,985,372

AUXILIARY FRONT FOR RADIATORS Filed Aug. 31, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORN 5Y5 D 1934- F. B. HERZ AUXILIARY FRONT FOR RADIATORS Filed Aug. 31, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Dec. 25, 1-934. F, B, HERZ 1,985,372

AUXILIARY FRONT FOR RADIATORS Filed Aug. 31, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Em. E

j'rdz/m/z d .flazy WWW 8M ATTO RNEY S' Patented Dec. 25, 1934 'UNlTED-STATES PATENT OFFICES Ferdinand B. Herz, Detroit, Mich, assign or to Long Manufacturing. Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Mich igan Application August'31; 1931,..Serial1 No. 560.515

16 Claims.

opening in the front of the shell.

A further object of this inventionis to provid a grille construction of the above mentioned character which will include a main frame and hollow ribs or the like secured to this frame; and to provide improved connections between these ribs. and the frame.

Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly. when reference is had to the accompanying drawings;

wherein r Fig. 1 isafront elevational view of a radiator unit showing an auxiliary front constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention associated with the same, the auxiliary front being partly broken away. for the sakeof'clear- HESS;

Fig.- 2' is an elevational" view of an auxiliary front constructed in accordance with theteachings of this invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational View of a portion of the front shown inFi'g. 2;

on the line 4-4- of Fig. '3;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken substantially.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged. elevational' View of a second portionof the front shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a-sectionarviewr taken on the line'6-6 of Fig. 5;

slightly modified form of construction;

- Fig. 8 -is'a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

substantially Fig. '7' isa view similar to 3 showing a Fig. 9 is a view similar. to. 3' showingia further. modified. form of construction;

ture .in spaced. relation to: each other; I

Fig; 11 is; a View similarlettr. Fig: 3 showing. a'

further modified form of' constructiony- Fig; ,l2;;is:a; sectional view taken: substantially:

on the line 12- -12;of:"Fig."11;:

Fig": l3=-is a; view: tol' Figfa showing. a

I furtherimcdiified;formcof;thevinvention;

(o1. gas-54 Fig;.14 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line ,14.14 of Fig. 13;

. Fig; 15 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a further modified form of construction; and

Fig. 16' is a sectional View taken substantially 5, on the line '16-16 of'Fig. 15.

Referring then particularly to the drawings wherein; like reference characters designateycorresponding'parts throughout allviews, the refer-'- ence character 20 designates generally a' radiator unit; This unit is shown'as comprising ashell 21 havingmarginalfront panel portions 22 defining an opening23. Disposedwithinthe shell is a heat exchange unit-which maybe of standard construction and: which is shown as including; the upper and lower headers 24iand'25, respectively, connected by the water circulating tubes 26.

Modern practice. in automobile manufacture is to form the marginal portions '22 of, the shell relatively narrow, with the, resultthatthese portions frequently are not of: sufficient width to concealv the headers 24* and 25 disposedwithin the'shell. To conceal these headers. and also the tubes connecting theheaders, it is' now'the-prac-' ticeto provide an'auxiliary front and'toj dispose. 25 this front within the shell between the inner sur-: faces of the marginal portions 22 of-the shell and the front of the headers and watertubesi The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved auxiliary front of thischaracter, t

ly extending webs or'frarne members 311and'32,

respectively, these frame members being connected at their ends by vertically extending frame members '33. Additional webs 34 which are pref erably relatively narrow maybe provided for com necting the side frame members at points intermediate their connection, to the upper and lower webs, The webs 31; and.32' are" preferably of sufficient width that when the auxiliary. front is positioned within the radiator shell ,the'se webs will extend-suf iciently into the opening in the "front of theshell to effectively conceal the upper and lowerhe'aders of the radiator. While therframei is shown as being formed of separate frame members secured to each other; it will be readily apaparentthat. if desired, this frame may be stamped or otherwise formed from a single sheet of metal. The auxiliary front constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention is designed to simulate a shutter unit, and to accomplish this result, suitable vertically extending ribs are fixed to the frame, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These ribs are spaced sufficiently closely together to give the front the appearance of a shutter unit and are yet spaced sufficiently apart to permit the passage of air through th shell, as will be readily apparent.

The present invention is directed more particularly to the means for securing the ribs to the webs of the frame construction, and by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings it will be noted that the ribs are extended to overlie the web 31,

the upper ends of the ribs terminating adjacent,

the upper edge of this web. The ribs are preferably V-shaped in cross section, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, being formed by suitably bending strips of sheet metal to the cross sectional shape desired. For securing the upper ends of the ribs to the web 31 there is provided a metal securing strip which is superposed on the web 31 adjacent the upper edge thereof and which is provided at spaced points throughout its length with bends 41 adapted to embrace the adjacent portions of the ribs 35. Intermediate the ribs the strip 40 is spotwelded to the web 31, as designated by the reference character 42 It will be understood that the ribs may be secured in a like manner to the lower web 32. For securing the ribs to the webs 34, each rib may be provided at points opposite these webs with tongues 43. These tongues are bent laterally'to liein' juxtaposition to the webs 34 and are spotwelded to these webs as designated by the reference character 44 in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

A' modified method of connecting the ribs to the webs is show'n'in Figs. 7 and 8. By reference to these figures, it will be noted that the web 31 is cut to provide ears which are bent forwardly out of the plane of the web. Each rib 35 embraces at its upper end one of these ears, and the ribs and ears are provided with aligned openings for receiving an anchor rod 46. The cars 45 will thus be rigidly anchored between the sides of the ribs 35 with the result that these ribs will be fixedly. connected to the web without, however, welding these ribs to the web.

'In Figs. 9 and 10 a further modified form of construction is shown, and by reference to these figures it will be noted that the web 31 is bent to provide a longitudinally extending hollow rib 50. This rib may, as illustrated, be substantially U- shaped in cross section and isprovided at spaced points throughout its length with pairs of slots 51. Each rib 35 is cut to provide tongues 52 adapted to be inserted through the slots 51 and then bent laterally, as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. These tongues "may be spotwelded to the under side of the base of the rib-50, as designated by the reference character 53. It will be noted that bending of the tongues 52 provides recesses in'the ribs 35 of sufficient size to receive the rib with the result that'the edges of the ribs 35 will be held fiush against the front surface of the web 31.

In Figs. 11 andl2 of the drawings a further modified construction is shown. By reference to these figures it will be noted that the ribs 35 are provided with projecting portions forming ears 55. The web 31 is provided with a slot 56 through which the ears may be inserted, after which these ears may be bent to engagetherear.

shell to cool the radiator.

face of the web, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings. In this form of construction it is preferable to so form the rib as to provide shoulders 57 thereon which cooperate with the ears 55 to clamp the portions of the web adjacent the slot therethrough.

A still further form of connection between the ribs and webs is shown in Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings. By reference to these figures it will be noted that the web 31 is provided with a forwardly bent flange at its lower edge. This flange extends in a substantially horizontal direction and is provided with an opening 61. The rib 35 is slit longitudinally adjacent its upper end to provide cars 62 which may be inserted through the opening 61 in the flange of the web and then bent laterally, as illustrated in the drawings. These-ears may then be spotwelded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the flange of the construction which comprises a suitable supporting frame, the contour of which is such as to fit within the radiator shell. Fixed to this frame either detachably or permanently are ribs, these ribs being formed to simulate the shutters of a shutter unit. The ribs extend vertically of the frame so that when the frame is positioned in a radiator shell the ribs extend vertically or the shell and thus enhance to a considerable degree the appearance of the radiator unit. The ribs are spaced sufficiently close together to substan-' tially conceal the radiator within the shell and are yet spaced apart sufiiciently to permit the passage of air through the front opening in the By connecting the ribs to a frame in the manner disclosed in this application, the auxiliary front will be sturdy in construction and yet will be capable of an economical production on a commercial scale.

In describing the structure forming the subject matter of this application, the connections between the ribs and the upper web 31 have been referred to. It is to be understood, however, that like connections will be made between the lower ends of the ribsand the webs 32 and that the ribs may be connected to the intermediate webs either by the structures shown in Figs. 5 and 6 or by any of the other connections described. The ribs being formed as they are of strips of metal bent to the desired shape, may have any cross sectional shape, it being noted that in some embodiments of the invention the ribs are shown as being V- shaped in cross sectional shape, while in other embodiments they are shown as being U-shaped in cross sectional shape.

While several embodiments of the inventive idea have been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims;

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An auxiliary front for radiators comprising a framehaving upper, lower and intermediate transversely extending web portions, strips of metal bent to form hollow ribs, and means for securing said ribs to said frame, said means including ears formed on said ribs intermediate the ends of the same, said ears being fixed to the transversely extending intermediate web portions of the frame.

2. An auxiliary front for vehicles comprising a frame having upper, lower and intermediate transversely extending web portions, ribs arranged vertically of said frame, and ears formed on said ribs intermediate the ends thereof, said ears being bent laterally to engage the faces of said intermediate web portions and being welded thereto.

3. In an auxiliary front for a radiator, a frame having a web portion,said web portion being formed with a hollow rib extending longitudinally thereof, and a strip of metal bent to form a hollow rib, the sides of said hollow rib being cut to provide tongues adapted to be inserted through slots formed in the base of the rib formed on said web portion and adapted to be secured to the under face of said rib. I v

4. In an auxiliary front for a radiator, a frame having a transversely extending web portion, said web portion being provided with a longitudinally extending outwardly projecting hollow rib, and

a plurality of strips of metal bentto form hollow:

a strip of metal bent to form a hollow rib and cut to provide a pair of tongues projecting from the longitudinal free edges of said rib adjacent one end thereof, said tongues being adapted to be inserted through a slot formed in said web portion and then bent laterally to engage the under face of said web portion adjacent the slot therein.

6. In an auxiliary front for a radiator, a frame having a transversely extending web, and a strip of metal bent to provide a hollow rib, said rib being provided at its end adjacent said web with transverse cuts to provide earsv adapted to be laterally bent to engage the outer surface of said web and adapted to be secured thereto.

7. In a grille for automobile radiators and the like, the combination of upper and lower base plate members, and a plurality of substantially vertical bar members secured to said plate members, the latter having substantially the same contour as that of the front lateral faces of the radiator shell and: adapted to be inserted between the front face of the radiator core and the inner periphery of the radiator shell.

8. A radiator grille for an autom'obilecomprising a series of parallel blades each formed from a metal strip into channel shape, and a transverse header member connecting said blades together, said member comprising a metal strip formed with channel portions embracing the 7 blades and spacer portions extending between the blades.

9. A radiator grille for an automobile comprising a series of parallel bars each comprising a metal strip formed into channel shape, a member extending transversely of said bars for retaining the same in parallel relation, said member comprising a metal strip having a series of parallel channel portions, the channeled bars and the;

channel'portions of said strip being fitted together in nested relation. a

10. A radiator grille for an automobile comprising a series of parallel bars each comprising a metal strip formed into channel shape, a memprising a series of parallel bars extending across the opening in said shell, and means for connecting said bars together and for maintaining the same in substantially parallel relation, comprising a metal strip formed with spaced flexible sections extending between the bars to maintain the same in spaced relation and also comprising rib sections shaped to embrace said bars.

12. A radiatorgrille adapted to be mounted within the radiator shell of an automobile inadvance of the radiator core, comprising a series of channel shaped blades, means for retaining said blades in predetermined spaced relation comprising a sheet metal member formedwith offset portions shaped to correspond with the shape of i said blades, each of said blades and offset portions fitting one within the other and secured toether. P

13. A radiator grille adapted to be mounted within the radiator shell of an automobile in advance of the radiator core, comprising a series of channel shaped blades, means forretaining said blades in predetermined spaced relation comprising a sheetmetal member formed with offset portions shaped to correspond with the shape of said blades, said blades fitting into said offset portions and secured together.

14. A radiator auxiliary front having a transversely extending web provided with a longitudinally extending hollow rib, and an upright'rib having recesses receiving the hollow rib and having tongues projecting from the inner edges of said recesses through and rigidly united with the hollow rib aforesaid.

15. A radiator auxiliary front having a transversely extending web provided with a longitudinally extending hollow rib, a hollow upright rib opening toward and having opposite sides thereof bearing against the outer face of said web, said opposite sides having recesses receiving the hollow rib of the web and having tongues projecting from the inner edges of the recesses through and rigidly united with the hollow rib of the web.

16. A radiator grille comprising a series of hollow ribs, each formed of a-return bent strip of sheet metal, a transversely extending support for said ribs and means for securing said ribs to said support comprising ears projecting from said ribs passingthrough slotsin said support and bent laterally. 1

FERDINAND B. HERZ. 

